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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

I met my MP

32 replies

FemmeFatalist · 13/10/2018 14:47

Delurking to say I met my MP today (male, Tory, old-school, fairly well-known). It took him a minute to work out what I was on about, clearly no one has raised it with him before. He then went on a rant about the very notion of self-ID being Preposterous! Absurd! Ludicrous! And then paused for breath and asked 'So, what side of the argument are you on?' Grin. I basically couldn't get a word in edgeways but he expressed himself as a feminist and thought women's concerns in general were not given enough prominence in politics. He couldn't understand why anyone would support self-ID and was surprised that 'Penny' (Mordaunt) was championing it. I did shoehorn in that David Davis had been very supportive and been the object of an inquiry for his trouble. He had no idea about the HoC meeting on Tuesday (I'd emailed him about it a week ago) and no intention of going, I tried suggesting someone from his office could go instead.

I left him a copy of the House of Lords speech and the Jan Morris Times article and he promised to read them and said he would vote against self-ID and that 'common sense must prevail'.

I've never met an MP before and done so entirely off the back of this board. I can't say I put in a dazzling performance, I don't think he let me finish a sentence even once so it's a good thing we were on the same side, I'd have been ripped to shreds otherwise! Still, I'm chalking it up as a win of sorts as maybe it will register on his radar in the future. He might even have a chat with Penny .

OP posts:
Stuffofawesome · 13/10/2018 14:48

well done for speaking your truth

CaptainKirkssparetupee · 13/10/2018 14:49

Well done.

OhHolyJesus · 13/10/2018 14:50

It's so great you met in person, I've managed replies from my MP but I wonder if I met in person he might do more. Without committing himself, reading between the lines I would take a guess that he was GC but I also think they have to tow the party line.

I'm so disappoint and scared that this travesty of Self ID might still get through somehow, despite their being a bit of commons sense prevailing, I'm not convinced the TRAs will force it through, so we must keep on pushing back and finding support where we can.

TorchesTorches · 13/10/2018 14:51

Well done! Great that you named his colleagues to keep an eye out for, to potentially debate further. (hopefully Penny will get an ear full...)

HermioneWeasley · 13/10/2018 14:52

Great work 💐

Original poster
FemmeFatalist · 13/10/2018 14:55

He definitely said he would vote against the party (and has a track record for doing so) so that's good. I don't know how far he would speak up about it to colleagues otherwise but I suppose he wouldn't ever have done if I'd not said anything today.

OP posts:
nauticant · 13/10/2018 15:01

Very well done. Although he has clear views on this now, there might be a point when he finds himself under pressure to change them. At that point, for all you know he'll think "hang on though, what about my sensible constituents like that woman who came to see me last year?"

KatVonGulag · 13/10/2018 15:02

Well done!

Manderleyagain · 13/10/2018 15:13

If single sex spaces and services for women are to be saved it looks increasingly like it will be because of the votes of male old school Tories.

Well done for going.

WokerThanWoke · 13/10/2018 15:18

Well done! Sounds promising.

theOtherPamAyres · 13/10/2018 17:54

Good on you.

The Conservative party has the most to lose and will want to back track. The Labour Party has the most to gain, if they could only see it.

A Lib Dem coalition minister set the balling rolling. The Tories, once in government, pumped up the volume and funded pro-trans organisations. Government guidance on how to interpret the Equality Act (gender reassignment) effectively introduced self i/d. We have arrived at our present point because a Conservative government made it happen - and the Opposition were complicit

They might try and stuff the genie back into the bottle before an election. It doesn't wash with me unless they take steps to undo the state-sponsored harm to women and girls rights by pro-trans lobby groups.

Biologicalreality · 13/10/2018 18:14

Well done you.

Cuntysnark · 13/10/2018 22:14

I saw mine yesterday. He (a Tory) was on the fence. But he did listen to my heartfelt pleas. I’ve bombarded the cowardly fucker with ‘evidence’ today. I pretty much begged him to send a rep to the meeting next week but I’m not holding my breath. But in other news he’s anti HS2 but not high speed rail so he got a little tick!

SanFranBear · 13/10/2018 22:44

I've got a call with my MPs office on Monday with the hope I can get a telephone appointment on Tuesday.

He has already said he has a scheduling clash with Tuesdays meeting (not in London) but I am hopeful if I can speak with him before Friday, his all important vote may be against the proposed changes.

I'm sort of optimistic - despite being Labour, I had an almost instant response asking for us to meet to talk my concerns through - wish I could do the face to face.. I think it could be quite hard over the phone!

SanFranBear · 13/10/2018 22:49

Actually, I know the consultation closes on Friday... when do MPs get their say/vote?

Manderleyagain · 13/10/2018 23:03

There isn't any legislation at the moment so it's just a case of making sure mps have formed a sensible opinion so they can say whether or not they would support a change in the law before the minister decides to put forward a bill. If few would support I doubt she would put forward any legislation. I don't think there would be a formal vote at this stage. Other than getting theirs go on 16th there's no deadline as such for seeing your MP. But the sooner the better! If a bill is forthcoming we will have another chance to tell them how we feel they should vote.

SanFranBear · 14/10/2018 08:35

Thanks so much Manderley... I shall still aim for this week but if he offers me a face to face next week, I shall grab it.

Charliethefeminist · 14/10/2018 08:50

Spoke to mine, Tory woman, some months ago, she seemed possibly convincable. She's just declined to respond to two emails about this meeting.

Charliethefeminist · 14/10/2018 08:52

After the consultation closes, I think the two prime areas for effort will be writing to MPs and engaging actively and seriously with local councils. I'm looking forward to it closing because after that I can crack on with the other stuff, downloading transgender trend for schools, writing to my councillors, engaging with my union etc.

HandsOffMyRights · 14/10/2018 09:01

Well done. I met my Tory female MP and it was positive. She gave my letter to Penny.

However, I've sent her two emails regarding Tuesday's meeting at the HOC, but no reply.

Original poster
FemmeFatalist · 17/10/2018 10:00

Hmmm. I have received a follow up letter that I wasn't expecting this morning. It says he has given his views to Penny Mordant and that he is awaiting a reply but that the proposal is 'merely to add a simple ability for a trans-gender person to change his or her birth certificate'. Clearly there is a misunderstanding as changing a birth certificate for someone who has a gender recognition certificate is not an issue, it's removing the process for getting a gender recognition certificate in the first place that is a concern. I will write back to him. He did say he would send Penny Mordaunt's response on to me when he gets it.

Still, his interest is piqued anyway!

OP posts:
Manderleyagain · 17/10/2018 10:25

There seems to be disagreement between lawyers as to what a GRC allows in relation to the EA. The whole area of law is obviously as clear as mud, and untested in the courts.

As far as I can tell the EHRC have been interpreting it for the public so that it looks very very difficult, near enough impossible, to legally treat someone with a GRC as their birth sex. They have just changed the guidance but it is still very very unclear to me how anyone could practically go about saying no to someone who has a GRC. I don't think Penny understands what this is about.

Well done for piquing his interest. You won't have to start from scratch if there is legislation to vote on.

Original poster
FemmeFatalist · 21/11/2018 12:29

Update: I did write back to him and explained why there is a lot more to it than changing birth certificates and I did get a very good reply saying he agreed with me and would keep pushing P Mordaunt's office.

I have received a letter from him with a copy of her reply this morning which is quite bland, talks about 'commitment to address the legitimate concerns from all sides' and 'we entered the process with an open mind' (ha!). Also talks about all the groups that were consulted with then goes on to say there was an exceptional response rate and that 'we will properly address all the views expressed and concerns raised. This includes considering the effects that any reform may have in specific contexts such as single-sex spaces, prisons or schools.' Also says will not be a swift process and does not anticipate publishing any response until next year.

MP acknowledged that this does not leave us any clearer but he will 'continue to keep abreast of developments in this important area bearing your concerns in mind'.

I'm actually really pleased that he's so engaged on this and has kept his word in replying to me regularly. He is someone with a fair amount of clout and letter from Penny Mordaunt was hand addressed and signed by her so she is aware of his thoughts rather than sending a stock response.

OP posts:
jellyfrizz · 21/11/2018 17:06

Well done Femme, I've written to mine but haven't been brave enough to meet with them yet.

Anlaf · 21/11/2018 17:07

Good work!

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